Weller's eleventh studio album, Sonik Kicks, was released on 19 March 2012. The Green Songfacts reports that it was recorded in Weller’s own Black Barn Studios in Ripley, Surrey, with co-producer Simon Dine and engineer Charles Rees.
Born John William Weller in Stanley Road, Woking, he was also a central figure in the Mod revival. As the leader of the Jam, Paul Weller fronted the most popular British band of the punk era, influencing legions of English rockers that ranged from his mod-revival contemporaries to the Smiths in the '80s and Oasis in the '90s. During the final days of the Jam, he developed a fascination with Motown and soul, which led him to form the sophisti-pop group the Style Council in 1983. As the Style Council's career progressed, Weller's interest in soul developed into an infatuation with jazz-pop and house music, which eventually led to gradual erosion of his audience — by 1990, he couldn't get a record contract in the UK, where he had previously been worshipped as a demi-god. As a solo artist, Weller returned to soul music as an inspiration, cutting it with the progressive, hippie tendencies of Traffic. Weller's solo records were more organic and rootsier than the Style Council, which helped him regain his popularity within Britain. By the mid-'90s, he had released three successful albums which were both critically-acclaimed and massively popular in England, where contemporary bands like Ocean Colour Scene were citing him as an influence. Just as importantly, many observers, while occasionally criticizing the trad-rock nature of his music, acknowledged that Weller was one of the few rock veterans that had managed to stay vital within the second decade of his career.
David Watts
Paul Weller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
I am a dull and simple lad
Cannot tell water from champagne
And I have never met the Queen
And I wish I could have all he has got
Wish I could be like David Watts
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
And when I lie on my pillow at night
I dream I could fight like David Watts
And lead the school team to victory
Take my exams and pass the lot
Wish I could be like David Watts (wish I could be like)
Wish I could be like David Watts (wish I could be like)
Pump up my life like David Watts (wish I could be like)
Wish I could be like David Watts (wish I could be like)
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
He is the head boy at the school
He is the captain of the team
He is so gay and fancy-free
And I wish I could have all he has got
Wish I could be like David Watts
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
And all the girls in the neighborhood
Try to go out with David Watts
They try their best but can't succeed
'Cause he is of pure and noble creed
Wish I could be like David Watts (wish I could be like)
Wish I could be like David Watts (wish I could be like)
Wish I could be like David Watts (wish I could be like)
Wish I could be like David Watts (wish I could be like)
Wish I could be like, wish I could be like
Wish I could be like, wish I could be like (wish, wish)
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa (David Watts)
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa (David Watts)
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa (David Watts)
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa (David Watts)
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa (David Watts)
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa (David Watts)...
The lyrics in Paul Weller's song "David Watts" are about a boy who wishes he could be like David Watts. He describes himself as a dull and simple lad who cannot tell water from champagne and has never met the Queen. David Watts, on the other hand, is the head boy at school, captain of the team, and is so gay and fancy-free. The singer dreams of being like David Watts and leading his school team to victory, passing all his exams, and having all that David has got. All the girls in the neighborhood try to go out with David Watts, but they can't succeed because he is of pure and noble creed.
The song can be interpreted as a commentary on the obsession with social status and the desire for material possessions. The singer wants to be like David Watts not because of who he is as a person or his character, but because of the power and status that he holds. The repetition of "Wish I could be like David Watts" and the chanting of "Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa" create a hypnotic effect, almost as if the singer is trying to convince himself that he really wants to be like David.
Overall, "David Watts" is a catchy and insightful song that comments on the dangers of blindly idolizing someone based on their status and possessions rather than their character.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a dull and simple lad
I lack sophistication and am not particularly interesting
Cannot tell water from champagne
I have simple tastes and cannot distinguish between things that are considered luxurious and things that are not
And I have never met the Queen
I am not important or influential enough to have met the Queen of England
And I wish I could have all he has got
I envy the status and possessions of David Watts
Wish I could be like David Watts
I aspire to have the qualities and experiences of David Watts
And when I lie on my pillow at night
In my private thoughts and dreams
I dream I could fight like David Watts
I imagine myself being courageous and strong like David Watts
And lead the school team to victory
I desire to be a heroic and successful leader
Take my exams and pass the lot
I wish to succeed academically
He is the head boy at the school
David Watts is the most accomplished and respected student in the school
He is the captain of the team
David Watts is the leader of the most important sports team in the school
He is so gay and fancy-free
David Watts is happy, carefree and enjoys life
And all the girls in the neighborhood
Girls in the community are attracted to David Watts
Try to go out with David Watts
They attempt to pursue a romantic relationship with David Watts
They try their best but can't succeed
Despite their efforts, they are unable to win over David Watts
'Cause he is of pure and noble creed
David Watts has high values and ideals and is not easily swayed by superficial or shallow things
Pump up my life like David Watts (wish I could be like)
I want to improve my life and live it to the fullest like David Watts
Wish I could be like, wish I could be like
I repeat my desire to emulate David Watts
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RAYMOND DOUGLAS DAVIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Myieke Perrin
I am a dull and simple lad
Cannot tell water from champagne
and I have never met the Queen
And I wish I could have all he has got
I wish I could be like David Watts
And when I lie on my pillow at night
I dream I could fight like David Watts
And lead the school team to victory
Take my exams and pass the lot
He is the head boy at the school
He is the captain of the team
His is so gay and fancy free
And I wish I could have all the money he's got
I wish I could be like David Watts
And all the girls in the neighborhood
Try to go out with David Watts
The try their best but can't succeed
For he is of pure and noble creed
STPOWERS
I am a dull and simple lad
Cannot tell water from champagne
and I have never met the Queen
And I wish I could have all he has got -
I wish I could be like David Watts
And when I lie on my pillow at night
I dream I could fight like David Watts
And lead the school team to victory
Take my exams and pass the lot
He is the head boy at the school
He is the captain of the team
He is so gay and fancy free
And I wish I could have all he has got
I wish I could be like David Watts
And all the girls in the neighbourhood
Try to go out with David Watts
The try their best but can't succeed
For he is of pure and noble breed
andrew james Bunting
Lyrics
I am a dull and simple lad
Cannot tell water from champagne
And I have never met the Queen
And I wish I could be like David Watts
And when I lie on my pillow at night
I dream I could fight like David Watts
Lead the school team to victory
And take my exams and pass the lot
Wish I could be like David Watts
(Wish I could be) Wish I could be like David Watts
(Wish I could be) Conduct my life like David Watts
(Wish I could be) I wish I could be like David Watts
He is the head boy at the school
He is the captain of the team
He is so gay and fancy free
And I wish I could be like David Watts
And all the girls in the neighbourhood
Try to go out with David Watts
They try their best but can't succeed
For he is of pure and noble breed
Wish I could be like
Wish I could be like
Wish I could be like (Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa)
Wish I could be like (Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa)
Wish, wish, wish, wish (Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa)
(Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa)
(Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa)
(Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa)
Be like (Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa)
Wish I could be like (Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa)
Chuck T
One of the very best power trios in rock, ever. Really wish I was smart and lucky enough to have discovered them in my impressionable youth.
K B
Great performance! Bruce Foxton totally looks like David Cassidy in this one. Love it.
Growler the 2nd
He’s always reminded me of Doyle from the PROFESSIONALS,actor Martin Shaw .🇬🇧👍
Sabine Brignell
A great cover of a Kinks classic!
squidinkUK
Fantastic! Wow, The Jam, such energy and honesty, we won't see the likes of for a long time.
Siobhan Quinn
wont see this ever again
in my life time fan since the 70s
John linx
These guys touch my soul every time.
mickey misa
The robot dancing at the end is fantastic. I keep replaying them. Looks like Paul Weller is doing it at the beginning.
BoyWith TheBlue
fantastic Cover.
i feel very happy to see the kids having fun in the crowd...
#thejam #mods #punks #skinheads
Robert Middlemiss
The 3rd album by The Jam, "All Mod Cons" was much better than the previous efforts and featured this great cover of a song by The Kinks and is a pun on the band's association with the Mod revival.